Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Hi, Well, the song was "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations, from '68 and tonight we got rain. Hmm. Michael wrote that The Temps didn't start having hits until David Ruffin began singing with them in '66. After that it was 'My Girl' and then a host of others, including this one. So, now you know. "I was working in the lab late one night When my eyes beheld an eerie sight For my monster from his slab began to rise And suddenly to my surprise" Hint: Not that you need one, but something creepy will happen tonight. Hmm. This was our first day, dealing with our newly found objects. Things went quite well. After much sorting, defining, and pondering, we got a few rooms 'together'. A trip to a couple of furniture stores really made things go better. Bookcases, or at least things that pass for them, helped us empty the many boxes of books. Lisa's art center, in the bedroom, is happening and after I get a few holes drilled tomorrow, I can start putting the studio/entertainment center together. (whew, that was a long sentence) I know I went on and on about the beautiful piece of property, but now we're moving on. It turns out there were just too many things 'not right' about the deal or the area. The main access to the land revealed two sheet-metal junk yards before we even got to the good stuff. Not the ambience we were looking for. Then, yesterday, as I went to open the gate for Boot, I heard the morning sounds of the neighborhood, a small child on a bike smiled at me, and I knew that I wanted to be near people, not out on the edge of things. Oh, speaking of bikes, we went back to Fat Free yesterday and got more details and sat on the cruisers we plan to buy. The place is owned by a woman named Chomphuu (which sounds like shampoo and translates as pink) and she sells and rents all types of bikes. When we asked her about buying a rental, she informed us that she couldn't do it because she wouldn't be able to stand behind the product. I love that kind of honesty. We have to wait a bit, for a shipment from Taiwan, but that's life. It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

PS I got this quote from my dear friend Leigh W.

"I wondered why 'somebody' didn't do something. Then I realized, I was somebody."~Unknown?

Hi, Well, the song was "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations, from '68 and tonight we got rain. Hmm. Michael wrote that The Temps didn't start having hits until David Ruffin began singing with them in '66. After that it was 'My Girl' and then a host of others, including this one. So, now you know. "I was working in the lab late one night When my eyes beheld an eerie sight For my monster from his slab began to rise And suddenly to my surprise" Hint: Not that you need one, but something creepy will happen tonight. Hmm. This was our first day, dealing with our newly found objects. Things went quite well. After much sorting, defining, and pondering, we got a few rooms 'together'. A trip to a couple of furniture stores really made things go better. Bookcases, or at least things that pass for them, helped us empty the many boxes of books. Lisa's art center, in the bedroom, is happening and after I get a few holes drilled tomorrow, I can start putting the studio/entertainment center together. (whew, that was a long sentence) I know I went on and on about the beautiful piece of property, but now we're moving on. It turns out there were just too many things 'not right' about the deal or the area. The main access to the land revealed two sheet-metal junk yards before we even got to the good stuff. Not the ambience we were looking for. Then, yesterday, as I went to open the gate for Boot, I heard the morning sounds of the neighborhood, a small child on a bike smiled at me, and I knew that I wanted to be near people, not out on the edge of things. Oh, speaking of bikes, we went back to Fat Free yesterday and got more details and sat on the cruisers we plan to buy. The place is owned by a woman named Chomphuu (which sounds like shampoo and translates as pink) and she sells and rents all types of bikes. When we asked her about buying a rental, she informed us that she couldn't do it because she wouldn't be able to stand behind the product. I love that kind of honesty. We have to wait a bit, for a shipment from Taiwan, but that's life. It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

PS I got this quote from my dear friend Leigh W.

"I wondered why 'somebody' didn't do something. Then I realized, I was somebody."~Unknown?

Hi, Well, the song was "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations, from '68 and tonight we got rain. Hmm. Michael wrote that The Temps didn't start having hits until David Ruffin began singing with them in '66. After that it was 'My Girl' and then a host of others, including this one. So, now you know. "I was working in the lab late one night When my eyes beheld an eerie sight For my monster from his slab began to rise And suddenly to my surprise" Hint: Not that you need one, but something creepy will happen tonight. Hmm. This was our first day, dealing with our newly found objects. Things went quite well. After much sorting, defining, and pondering, we got a few rooms 'together'. A trip to a couple of furniture stores really made things go better. Bookcases, or at least things that pass for them, helped us empty the many boxes of books. Lisa's art center, in the bedroom, is happening and after I get a few holes drilled tomorrow, I can start putting the studio/entertainment center together. (whew, that was a long sentence) I know I went on and on about the beautiful piece of property, but now we're moving on. It turns out there were just too many things 'not right' about the deal or the area. The main access to the land revealed two sheet-metal junk yards before we even got to the good stuff. Not the ambience we were looking for. Then, yesterday, as I went to open the gate for Boot, I heard the morning sounds of the neighborhood, a small child on a bike smiled at me, and I knew that I wanted to be near people, not out on the edge of things. Oh, speaking of bikes, we went back to Fat Free yesterday and got more details and sat on the cruisers we plan to buy. The place is owned by a woman named Chomphuu (which sounds like shampoo and translates as pink) and she sells and rents all types of bikes. When we asked her about buying a rental, she informed us that she couldn't do it because she wouldn't be able to stand behind the product. I love that kind of honesty. We have to wait a bit, for a shipment from Taiwan, but that's life. It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

PS I got this quote from my dear friend Leigh W.

"I wondered why 'somebody' didn't do something. Then I realized, I was somebody."~Unknown?

Monday, October 29, 2007

Well, guess you can tell that the double space gremlin is messing with me again. Anyway, it must be Monday where you are. We got the news today that our container has cleared customs and will arrive tomorrow morning. They'll bring it to the house, unpack and unwrap everything, which is great. Then comes the fun part, where to put it all. We got a couple of clothes racks so we can hang the things that aren't too warm. The rest will have to stay in their boxes. It should be an interesting day or two.

If you were humming "Money" by Pink Floyd all weekend, then you got the song. It was on their mega-hit LP "Dark Side of the Moon". Speaking of dark sides, this next tune could easily be an anthem for SoCal these days. Remember:

"Sunshine, blue skies, please go away. My girl has found another and gone away..." Clues: Obviously relating to weather, it's by a tempting group from the late 60s. It would be good if it happened in the fire areas.

I had an interesting conversation with a new friend, who manages a resort hotel about an hour north of us. He told me that they have elephants on the grounds. This caught my interest and I asked him to explain. Apparently, since the government stopped the harvesting of teak wood, the families who worked the forests have nothing to do, and neither do their elephants. Many of them became what he called 'elephant beggars' in and around Bangkok. We saw one when we were in Bangkok in '01. It was quite a sight to see a man walking a baby elephant down the street at night, letting people pet it for a donation. Anyway, the hotel is adopting the elephants and their families. They now live on the grounds and guest of the hotel can, for a fee, learn to 'drive' an elephant. A portion of the 'fee' goes to take care of the families. It's something I never would have realized, that these families lives were centered around their elephants and the work they could do.

We got a message from Blue the other day which was very interesting. He said, "Be sure to say a prayer and ask the spirits for permission to buy and live on the property. As you know, all properties in Thailand have spirit houses on them (as does your current house) and Thais firmly believe in keeping the spirits who may also be occupying the property, happy. So if you go there, think positive thoughts and kindly ask for permission. Joyce says, 'This way, things will go smoothly'." Now you and I know the story behind the 'Spirit House'.

Well, time to wind down and prepare for tomorrow. It's going to be like opening Pandora's Box. Hmm. Couldn't resist recycling today's quote from the archives. Have a Happy Week.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Hi, It's hard to believe that another week has gone by. And yet it has. It's been a busy, productive week for us. Our Friday found even more things for us to discover. This morning we went for our first bike ride. Lisa rode an antique bike and I rode a mountain bike. We found ourselves at the entrance to the sports complex near the house. We didn't know it was so big. There's a stadium with a large field, a playground for small kids, tennis courts, basketball, and our favorite, a swimming pool. It's open six days a week and costs about $1.60 for both of us to swim. We're totally exited about this because we haven't been able to exercise the way we used to. So, we'll ride to the pool, swim, and ride home. That should set us up for a nap real good. (Ha) Later in the afternoon, we stopped by 'Fat Free Bicycles' to check on getting our own bikes. Before I go on, let me just say that if you didn't get the song, you missed "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel. To add to your education, I will pass on this bit of knowledge from Lois. When pronouncing the name of his hometown, the 'd' is silent: Longislan. Got it? For the weekend, here's one that shouldn't be too hard. This one is worth getting:"__, get away. Get a good job with more pay and you're OK. __, it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash" Clue: The say it makes the world go 'round. From a monumental LP in the '70s. What a give-away. Yesterday I told you about a piece of land that Pat had found. Today we went back to look a little closer. He told us they had cut the grass. What he was trying to say was, they knocked down the grass to make a path so one could walk in and see the tall grass. It was still breathtaking. It's 3 1/3 Rai, which translates to about 1 1/2 acres. It's bordered on three sides with amazing trees and we want it. It's in an area that's close to shops and a big market, but remote enough that there was no sound. Maybe a bird or two. Supat said that in the morning the birds are very busy, which is great. But there was no motorbike sound, no airplane, no nothing. Wow. I could babble on, but I won't. I'll put up a few pics so you can see what I'm talking about. On the way back from the property, I spotted a furniture store that I'd seen before but never related to. We went in and found things we needed, like a corner desk for me and a new closet for Lisa. They delivered and put it all together and Lisa's closet was so nice, we called and ordered a second one. Now we have matching dark brown closets. They're bigger than the ones that were here, and that's a good thing. Are container is in Bangkok and should arrive here Tuesday or Wednesday. I think it's time for some 'Funnies'. I've hit bottom, need new input, 'G' rated. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

PS Deepest apologies for the mail yesterday. I try to hide addresses but Gmail thought I was a spammer and rejected all my lists. I had to act fast and it came out wrong. They have new software and it's not right. I hope they fix it soon. I got mailin' to do.

To err is human; but to really mess things up requires a computer.

Computers are not intelligent.They only think they are.

Computers make very fast, very accurate mistakes.The attention span of a computer is as long as its electrical cord.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Hi, For some reason, we both got a little crossed up in the space/time continuum and thought it was going to be Friday, for you. It's going to be Friday for us, when we wake up. Oh, never mind. "I don't want clever conversation, I never want to work that hard, mmm. I just want someone that I can talk to I want you __ __ __ __ __." Lots of positive response for a song many didn't want to sing all day. I understand. Rebecca wrote to tell me he's from Longisland (one word). Who knew? I think you'll get it with today's line. This morning we went for a walk. We turned off our street and went a new way and found a whole section we didn't know existed. We saw cool houses, nice lots, and a few special sights as well. We (I) got a little turned around and we ended up taking the long way home (another cool song). In the process, we learned even more about the area. It's nice, since we're going to be here at least a year. This evening, we're guardedly giddy. Our friend Supat took us to see some land he'd investigated. It's just the right distance from the center of things, on a nice quite road, it's large enough to do what we've planned and the price is more than right. We want to be cautious, yet not miss what could be a great opportunity. They're cutting down the tall grass tomorrow and we may sneak by to take a better look. We have to be careful because we don't want to give ourselves away and have the price go up. (Happens every day) We're nearing the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the tourist season. It's supposed to get cooler, which makes it more inviting up here, as opposed to say, Bangkok. Anyway, we're seeing lots of busses, and the NB is more crowded than a month ago. I wore my 'special shirt' last night and it got a great reception. Well, guess I'll prepare myself for the real Friday and wish you a Happy Thursday.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Hi, Well, it's Wednesday evening. We just got back from a 'night on the town'. We went to the Wiang Inn, had a questionable dinner and listened to Freddie play and sing. We were the only ones in the room. During his break, he sat with us and we had a nice visit. While he was hanging out, more and more hotel guests arrived. He's coming over for lunch on Saturday. And speaking of singing, a bunch of you missed a chance to sing "Cowboys To Girls" over the last few days. The Intruders had a big hit with that one in the early 70s. Here's an easy one, a ballad from '78 that you should get:"Don't go changing to try and please me, You never let me down before, mmmm. Don't imagine you're too familiar, And I don't see you anymore..." Hint: This piano man had many hits, a bit of a chameleon, but that's the way he was. We spent the afternoon riding around with Pat. We saw some beautiful property, but I think it's a little too far from town. Then we saw some land in town, but the price was way too high. The right spot with the right price is out there waiting for us to arrive. It will happen. In the course of our travels, we saw some pretty amazing sights. One thing Pat showed us was a development that being built by a group from Holland. Really nice houses with moats around them and, get this, draw bridges. I couldn't resist taking a few pics of this. I'll post them today. So far, everyone we know who lives in the various fire areas is alright for the moment. Lots of SD family had to evacuate. Thankfully, we're getting updates from other family members so it's not as unsettling as it could be. Not much else to tell you today. Life goes on in Chiang Rai. Oh, just remembered something. Yesterday we heard the familiar sound of loudspeakers. Usually, they're on top of a pickup truck and the cruise through the neighborhood making political announcement (election coming) or advertising something. The voice we heard yesterday was stationary. It went on for quite a while. We asked Boot what it was about and she told us that two people in the village had died. She thinks they were older people, and the voice was the Phu Yai Ban (my spelling), or village leader. It was like a tribute to them. Today we heard the sound of music coming down the street. It sounded live. It was a funeral procession, which consisted of a truck carrying a large casket with loved ones riding and walking around it, plus a truck with about 10 musicians playing traditional instruments. It was a very touching sight. Now I'm really done. For you, it's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Hi. Today was supposed to be the day our ship would come in. Turns out that not much 'official' was happening today because it's an holiday. Today is Chulalongkorn (or King Rama V) Day. He was born in 1853 and died in 1905. He was the grandfather of the present King. He is responsible for major changes in the Thai way of life and is loved and revered as the father of modern Thailand. He ended slavery, instituted governmental agencies to take care of the needs of the people. He traveled all over the country making sure that the changes took place and that people were treated properly. He also managed to play the role of diplomat and fend off formal occupation by several countries. He did concede some land to France, but kept Thailand free. Many Thais have a picture of him in their homes. I guess some of you were too busy watching the fire news to read your mail. A few of you knew the song. Maybe these lyrics, that finish out the first verse, will help you out. "But I was young and didn't understand, but now I'm a grown up man. I know girls are made for kissing, never knew what I was missing. Now my life is not the same, my whole world has been rearranged. I went from __ __ __ Oh yes I did __ __ __" Speaking of fires, we've been trying to keep up, but there's just too many. I'm imagining that it must be all smokey in the non-fire areas, ashes everywhere. pretty bad. It's really sad to think that some of the fires this year, were intentional. My Cousin Morris (Conley Jr.) lives in San Diego Country Estates (near Romona). I sent him a message to see what was happening and got a reply from his dad, who didn't know about my message. Morris' wife and son had left, but as a fire fighter, he chose to stay and protect his house and his neighborhood. His boss approved his decision. My hat's off to all of the folks out there on the line, the city and county fire fighters as well as the inmates who are trained to fight brush fires. I know Cousin Albert's out there somewhere. Today we found out where to buy popcorn. We had gone to what we call the 'kitchen store', to get another cabinet for the kitchen house. This place is actually a sheet-metal fabrication company that makes and sells tables for burners, storage, and even makes snazzy push-carts that we see on the street with food cooking on them. Whew. There's a young woman there who speaks pretty good English and she gave us the tip. I'm getting real close to posting the first installment of "Thai Life on Two Wheels". I've been taking pics of, well, motorbikes and all that happens with them. You've seen a few, but stay tuned. You ain't seen nothin' yet. It's Time for Tacky Tuesday!

Peace, Danny

"Too often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kindword, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act ofcaring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."~Leo Buscaglia

Monday, October 22, 2007

Hi, Well, another weekend's come and gone. Around here it just seems like 'same same', as they say around here. Things aren't necessarily altered that much on Saturday and Sunday. Life goes on. It was nice to see that a lot of you remembered "The Duke of Earl", by Gene Chandler. Brought back many memories."I remember when I used to play shoot em up (Shoot em up, bang, bang baby) I remember when I chased the girls and beat em up. But I was young and didn't understand..." Hints: Speaking of memories, this one should surely bring some. An R&B oldie that should intrude on your present state of mind and take you back to childhood, as in the song. Oh, the games we played. The F1 season is over and the last race was action packed from start to finish. Our favorite had a few problems, ended up at the end of the pack, then drove his way back to 7th place at the finish. It was enough for Lewis Hamilton to end up in second place in the championship points, in his rookie year. Wait 'til next year. Saturday we went over to the 101 Cafe and Bakery for weekly concert of the Chiang Rai Youth Orchestra. It's made up of about 14 young people playing violin, cello and bass. They played for about 45 minutes, without a conductor. We were very impressed with their playing. Some time ago I told you about how a small group of them got a chance to go to Belgium and study with a concert violinist. There was a group of younger kids there (a field trip I suspect) and about 20 adults who came to listen. We'll probably check them out again. There are pictures on the Flickr site. Today we had a little drama around here. Three of the fish in the pond died. A man came to clean the water, but was too late. Now there's only one lone fish. The conclusion, so far, is that the water was just too dirty. The pond needs a filter, in my opinion. We'll see about getting more fish. I've added a bunch of pictures to the site from the day we went driving with Pat. There are some reliefs carved out of the side of a hill, and the fancy resort I told you about. Be sure and stop by and check them out. If all goes as planned (which rarely happens) our 'stuff' will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow. Then it's a matter of our agent going through an 'unofficial negotiation' with the customs people. Can you say 'ransoming our belongings?'. Such is the way. Have a Wonderful Week.

Peace, Danny

"If you believe you can, you probably can.If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't.Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad."~Denis Waitley

Friday, October 19, 2007

Hi, Well, another beautiful day in the Land of Smiles. We had a most productive afternoon. But first, the business. The song was "Tell Me Somethin' Good" by Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan. Linda sent me some interesting background. As some of you knew, Stevie Wonder wrote the song. He took the group another song but they didn't like it, so he wrote a new one on the spot. Then showed Chaka how to sing it. I think it worked. For the weekend, I dare you not to hum this:"As I walk through this world Nothing can stop the __ __ __...." Clues: Oh, you know this one. Came out just before the British Invasion, back when vocal groups and crooners ruled the land. It's about a flashy bit of 'royalty'. (Ha) Sing it. Our new friend, Supat, was all ready to show us more land, but we had a list of things to do that was growing. Also, we needed his help with some of it. Things went very smoothly, as we paid bills (yes, we still have those) and shortened the list. We have a ton of VCR tapes coming with our stuff, but didn't bring a machine. We just figured we'd get one here. Welcome to the digital age. Half the stores we went to didn't know what I was talking about. Supat knew, and took us to a big store that had one used one left. We bought it. Another thing I needed was a keyboard. I'd been looking at the two big music shops, but they hadn't had any pro gear until lately. We went back to the store, had the guy hook it up, played a bit and took it home. We couldn't have done that in a Tuk-Tuk. Supat was kind enough to take all of our shopping to the house while we walked to our Thai lesson. The mouth is still a little confused when having to start a word with 'ng'. Try it. See? This is the weekend of the last Formula One Grand Prix of the season. The race for champion is to close to call. You've probably noticed that I stopped bugging you about it. Just be glad I'm not into baseball. They have games all the time. This weekend I'll be loading some new pictures on the Flickr site. And now it's time for the 'Funnies', from the archive. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

A man opens an outdoor stall to sell bagels and puts up a sign, "50cents each." A jogger runs past and puts 50 cents into the bucket butdoesn't take a bagel. The next day, he does the same thing. For weeksand then months, this goes on.

One day, as he's jogging past, the owner joins step with him. The joggerlaughs and says, "I know why you're here. You want to know why I alwaysput money in the bucket and never take a bagel."

"No," says the owner, "not that. I just want to tell you that the bagels

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Hi, We got an email today from the shipping company telling us to send our passports a quickly as possible. The container is due to arrive on the 23rd. We're not holding our breath, but we did send the books via courier. We just continue to wait, thinking, 'where are we going to put all that stuff'. I'm thinking we'll have a grand yard sale of 'Stuff From America' on the front lawn. If we tell Et (the store lady across the street) and a few drivers, everybody will know. It's a fantasy I have to avoid putting everything away. Half of it we probably won't wear, now that we've become acclimated. But I ramble. Lots of response to the song. Seems I hit a popular chord. I should amend the rules though. I don't think the writer actually recorded the song, but he should have. A few folks got the extra points and a couple are still in the car."...Problem is you ain't been loved like you should. What I got to give will sure 'nuff do you good. __ __ __ __ ..."Clue: If you can't tell me something about this song, well.... I've been compiling pictures of things that go on with the two wheel set. The small motorbikes are such a part of the landscape, that I forget sometimes, that they were an oddity in the States. There is no age, social strata, or gender that does not participate in this mode of transportation. They are also a major part of commerce. While we're used to seeing two-wheeled rockets careening through traffic, here, they just hum along avoiding cars and Tuk-Tuks. Three and four on a bike is not uncommon, and sometimes helmets are worn, sometimes not. Another thing we've been made aware of is the seeming lack of competitive jealousy when it comes to small business. On our walk from the house this morning, to the business district, we noticed about three or four home-operated beauty shops. There are tiny stores on almost every block, and at the main intersection, there were convenience stores across the street from each other. There is also no shortage of food. As I've mentioned, all you need is a pot of something to eat, a table, a few chairs and you're in business. Actually, the chairs are optional. So is the table. You can roll the food around and still do business, right next to a restaurant. Try that in L.A. Well, time to go. See you tomorrow.

Peace, Danny

"When they think that they know the answers,people are difficult to guide.When they know that they don't know,People can find their own way."~Tao Te Ching, Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Hi, First the song thing. Brenda, Linda and Lisa got it. It was "Wrapped Around Your Finger" by The Police. And now: "You ain't got no kind of feeling inside. I got something that will sure 'nuff set your stuff on fire." Clue: This time I'm thinking of the 1974 cover of this song, by a group with a man's name, fronted by a woman. Tell me the correct answer and you get bonus points. Tell me the original artist as well and get a gold star. Tell me just the original artist and you can stay in the car. (Ha) Today Pat took us out into the world. We started southwest of the city, just taking in the sights. We saw some real nice land, some of it rather expensive. Then we went to the top of Buffalo Hill. We were just a few minutes from the center of town, riding in the woods. We went to the top and found ourselves at Wat Doi Kow Kwai. There is a mirror covered spire that is breathtaking. At the base, is a statue of a legendary/mythical creature named "Sii Hoo, Ha Dtah" which translates as 'four ears, five eyes'. Kind of a canine body with this very busy head. There's a picture on the Flickr site. The legend is that it would eat hot coals and the end result would be gold. We walked around a bit and then Pat grabbed a mallet and hit this giant black gong. The sound was incredible. Not only did it make the expected 'gong' sound, but there were these additional thumping sounds underneath. It rang through the quiet of the mountain-top, causing all the dogs at the Wat to howl. Very eerie. Down off the hill, we saw some beautiful houses, more vacant lots and a real slick new hotel that just about to open. We'll venture into other quadrants of the city as the days go on. Pat is on the same wavelength as us, as far as taking our time and finding the right piece of land. So far, it's all been too far from town. Some people like the isolation, but we prefer to have access to civilization without a road trip. Tonight we went to the NB and did some shopping. I got a T-shirt made by this woman who writes on shirts, in Thai script. I came up with my own text: "I'm not a tourist, I live here." It's kind of a 'let's set the record' kind of thing. People keep asking: 'How long you stay?'. Hence, the shirt. The woman laughed when I handed her the paper with what I wanted. She got it. Oh, I didn't write it, Ploy did that for me. You can see the shirt at Flickr. Well, time to go put some of the new pics on the web. Have a Happy Day.

Peace, Danny

"To seek happiness outside of ourselves,Is like trying to lasso a cloud.Happiness is not a thing,It is a state of mind."~Omar Khayyam

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Hi, We're still being dazed and confused and grateful by/for the generosity of the Thai people. We're becoming 'regulars' around town and we're greeted with big smiles. There's a man who sells and repairs watches that we'd see everyday while we lived at the hotel. We call him 'The Watch Guy'. We've run into him a few times away from his shop and he always has a big grin and a greeting. As I've mentioned before, the Tuk-Tuk drivers are getting the idea and they're very pleased that we love Thailand. That seems to be the sentiment: if you love our country well enough to stay, then we love you. "You consider me the young apprentice, caught between the scylla and charybidis. Hypnotized by you if I should linger. Staring at the ring around your finger......__ __ __ __ __ __,(repeat)" Clues: I know, baffling lines, but it was a hit by a trio, in the mid 80s. Yesterday, among the errands that I mentioned, was a little excursion with Nut, to a store we'd heard about that had art paper. We had look in most of the stationary stores we'd seen, but without success. She showed us three stores with a variety of art supplies and lots of other things for sale. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the guitars and soccer balls, or the store with conga drums next to the dumbells. These are truly variety stores. Today we got the final shipment of furniture. The teak is in the house. It's more amazing than we remembered. I'll post the pics so you can see for yourself. We were at our language lesson when the stuff arrived, so it was a nice surprise. A little later, Jen and the boys came over and brought a vegetarian dinner to share with us. There has been a ten day vegetarian festival going on and they wanted us to have an 'experience', I guess. I was able to eat one of the dishes plus some rice. I couldn't have the glass noodles because they were hot (can't eat hot) and the other dish was tofu (can't do soy). Poor thing. During dinner, as always, the subject turned to language and we ended up teaching them some English words and working past some pronunciation problems. In LOS, 'v' usually sounds like 'w', as in 'tee-wee' for T.V. Tomorrow Pat is taking us out to look at land. We're going to check out various parts of town and also see just how big one rai looks. Two and a half rai equals one acre. Add to that the fact that everything is referred to in meters or kilometers and I'm totally lost. Show me what it looks like. I'll let you know. One last thing. I went to the DVD store and discovered they had a whole row of Roswell, one of our favs. We got to the counter, all ready for a marathon only to find out that there was no English on the disc. Now that's just wrong. Have a Tasty Tuesday.

Peace, Danny

PS Check out the Flickr site.

"If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down."~Mary Pickford

Monday, October 15, 2007

Hi, How was your weekend? We've been having quite a time. Friday night we went to dinner with Nukhun, Gai and Blue. They took us to a Chinese spot that they love. We ate in a little air/con room in the rear. As expected, lots of food was ordered. Some of it we ate, some we just couldn't handle. Specifically, Duck Feet. Nukhun, being a jovial guy, plopped one on my plate. I immediately put it back on the platter. He totally understood and we all had a big laugh. Frankly, it was gross. Later they brought out chicken. We thought it was going to be some typical Chinese chicken dish. Wrong. It was basically deep-fried chicken skin with legs thrown in for good measure, plus the head. Oh my. More playfulness and more laughter. We tried the skin and a leg, but it was not taste I could get into. Before dinner, we went out to their house to see 'Grandma'. The house is set on a large piece of property with a man-made pond. A big pond, stocked with fish. Pretty amazing sight. We couldn't see the fish, so Nukhun brought out some fish food and all of a sudden the water was churning. Reminded me of the time I was on the Amazon, watching the Pirana. (Ha) The song most of you didn't know was "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister, from the mid 80s. Here's another from the same period. This line is from the middle of the song and I love the way the writer threw in such a non musical name."Mephistopheles is not your name, I know what you're up to just the same. I will listen hard to your intuition. You will see it come to it's fruition. __ __ __ __ __ __" Hint: If you can wrap you mind around this one, you're doing good. Today Blue left for the States. We went with him to the airport, early, and after he boarded, we bought a ton of the treats we can only find there. Later in the morning we met another Supat. (fortunately, he goes by Pat, pronounced Pot) This is a man we met through Boot, to be out driver when we want to travel by car. (Tuk-Tuks can get a little tired) Very nice man who works for an insurance agency and offered to be our 'friend' and help us. He took us on some errands, waited, helped us buy a desk and then came to the house and waited for the delivery. We had some really interesting conversations with him. He's going to be a nice addition to our 'family'. The weather was beautiful all day and then tonight it just dumped. The rain is supposed to be over at the end of the month, though I don't know how people can be so exact about a thing like that. I'm posting more pictures on the Flickr site. There's some orchids and some random shots of Thailand. Enjoy.

Peace, Danny

"Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor."~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Hi, We had a pretty mellow day today. We had our Thai lesson today and learned more about food, and how to order certain things. After that we met Blue at Doi Chaang Coffee and had, what else, some good coffee. We strolled down to Tops for a few things and it struck me, no grocery store runs. During our class, Ploy asked us if we went to the market. (meaning fresh food market) We told her that Boot did the shopping, but that we did go to other stores. She was trying to find out if we spoke Thai in our lives and in what situations. We assured her that we were forced to deal with the language, since our landlord people don't speak English, and most of the Tuk-Tuk guys don't either. We'd be a bit lost without Boot and Blue. Blue leaves early Monday morning. We'll go to the airport with him and see him off. It will also be an opportunity to pick up more of the rice treats that we've only found there. It's been great having him here with us. It's a big house and it's nice to have it full of laughter and craziness (which is what happens when we get together). We just got back from the NB (you know what that is). Blue got a few more things to take back for the Holiday Sale at his restaurant (you should get out there for that) and I picked up a full size bow for my Salor. After the NB we went over to the Wiang Inn to see Freddie play. Blue wanted to see him one more time before he left. We stayed until Freddie's break and hung out. If you come to town before April, we'll take you to see him sing and play. Tomorrow the teak is supposed to arrive. This is going to be interesting because the place where we want to put the bookshelf will require moving the picture of The King. Everyone has at least one picture of His Majesty in their house. I'll have to see how it's hung and then try and duplicate the process in another spot. Boon Serm and his wife are out of town for a month, to see a new grand-daughter, so we're on our own. Oh, I'll bet you thought I was going to forget about the song. No way. A few of you got it, including Denny. It was "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He was Jerry Lewis' son and the group had a hit, but didn't play their instruments. When they played the Hollywood Bowl, the real players were backstage. And the beat goes on..."Take these __ __, and learn to fly again, and learn to live so free. And when we hear the voices sing, The book of love will open up and set us free...." Clues: 1985, clever named group, you just read the chorus. Pretty simple. Gotta go. You're just in time for the 'Funnies', sent to me by my good friend Lee. Some of you may have seen this, too bad. Have a Big WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

The following was published by an insurance company for internal distribution. These reports were submitted when policy holders were asked for a brief statement describing their particular accident:

The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention.

I thought my window was down but found it was up when I put my hand through it.

A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

The guy was all over the place. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.

The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle.

I was driving my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before.

I was on my way to the doctor’s with rear-end trouble when my universal joint gave way, causing me to have an accident.

As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

The telephone phone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front bumper.

To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.

My car was legally-parked as it backed into the other vehicle.

An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle and vanished.

When I saw I could not avoid a collision, I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car.

The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.

I saw the sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Hi, We had a rainy morning. Really rainy. We all just hung around the house. After lunch the sun came out and Blue went into 'town'. We stayed and set up the new printer and did some tests. We made some great color photos for our start. Gave Boon Serm a pic of him and his wife. We gave another one we took of Ploy, that we'll give her tomorrow. I've had a few answers to the song. Some got it half right. Here's the opening line, and a dead giveaway:"Who wants to buy __ __ __? She took it off her finger now, it doesn't mean a thing..." What? You're looking for clues? Tonight we had NuKhun and his wife Gai over for dinner (He's Joyce's uncle). We met him when we first came to LOS. He arranged for us to have a (government) van and driver for the time we were in Chiang Rai. They asked if they could bring anything and we told them no, but they showed up with bags of food. Fruit, crackers, chips desserts, of various kinds. There is fruit in LOS that you can't get anywhere else in the world. We're slowly trying different things. Boot brings us food to try and doesn't let us not try it. It's cute how she's making sure we learn to eat all Thai food. We keep telling here we love her cooking, but sometimes there's just too much to finish it all. (I sort of lost my place just then) The point I was making is, we had a good time and I think it was an important dinner. Turns out he knows Boon Serm and they had a conversation. Hmm. Observation: 'L' and 'R' may be interchanged in certain Thai words. They may also be confused, or left out, in various English words. For instance, Blue is often called Boo. In a conversation about a song, Lazy River became Razy Liver. After some very focused pronunciation, I managed to coax the word River from a very confused mouth. Foreigners are referred to as 'falang'. It's often written as 'farang' but always spoken with the 'L'. And lastly, Elvis is big over here, still. Well, that's about it. Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace, Danny

"The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning."~Ivy Baker Priest

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Hi, Well, let's get this over with. The song was "These Eyes" by The Guess Who. If you remember, I gave you the group name. I've been very loose with the clues lately. Maybe I'll just shut down and not tell you anything. Naw, I wouldn't do that. I might just give you some harder songs though. Like this one: "This stone is genuine, like love should be.And if your baby's truer than my baby was to me. __ __ __ can be something beautiful...." Clues: '65 hit by offspring of celebs, lyric is from second verse. My day started with a 'visit' with five dear friends back in the States. We hadn't hung out like that in quite a while. Using Skype video, it's amazing. I think we were on line for about one hour and fifteen minutes. It just flew. Ain't technology grand? We did manage to get a dose of drama today. The shop where we got the teak pieces got real crazy about the shipping. After about 4 phone calls and an email, we got a message that our two pieces would be delivered Sunday at a reduced rate. Well, I guess that's better than us having to hire a truck to go and get our stuff. Sunday? Amazing Thailand. We just got back from the Night Bazaar and a massage. We met a woman at the bazzar who's shop we'd seen before, but we'd never really gone in. Tonight Blue was looking for things to take back so we went in with him. We now have a new friend in town. I also noticed that tonight, the guys that play the traditional instruments were doing some different sounding songs. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the Suengs they were playing were really guitars in disguise. They had tuning pegs on the back of the neck and were actually six-string guitars on the body of a Sueng. Very clever. I want one. One of them was a double-neck model. Whew. After the Bazaar, we went to the place where we had the foot massage. Blue and I had our feet 'done', while Lisa went for the oil massage. I'm trying that one next time. We've been here 40 days. It's hard to believe. There are locals who are starting to get it, that we're not tourists. Several Tuk-Tuk drivers know the way to our house without us telling them. Some will come and get us at the house. A guy picked me up the other night and just said 'big house' and smiled. It's getting late here, so I'll sign off. Have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"The basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems become thevery place to discover wisdom and love."~Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Hi, Well, it was a major day today. We got most of our furniture. Eight pieces arrived in two deliveries and it's made a world of difference. Now we have places to put things. I'll have to post some pics so you can see what it look like now. So far, Barry and Lisa are the only ones to get the song. I realize you're busy with the new season, Monday night football and life in general, but I practically gave you the group name. This little bit should help you out:"__ __ watched you bring my world to an end. This heart could not accept and pretend. The hurtin's on me, yeah..." Aside from the furniture, it's been an uneventful day around here. Oh, we've been going through a thing with the water. First there was some procedure to connect to 'city water' and then the pressure was so bad it was a joke. Boon Serm added a stronger pump and we had more pressure, but we also got mud. Not really mud, but brown water. The standing theory is that junk built up on the inside of the pipes and when the new pressure came, it knocked it loose, sort of. Anyway it's better now for most of the outlets. So many things we take for granted in the States, until they're not there. This evening Blue loaded all the images he's taken so far, into my computer and we watched a wonderful slide-show of everything from pictures from the Taipei airport (parts that we'd never seen), to faces of the many Hill Tribes (he has a show coming up) to pictures of the house, as only he could shoot them. He's traveled to many remote places on this trip, capturing images that most of the world never sees. Early Warning: Thanksgiving week-end he's going to be in a two person show in Claremont. You won't be disappointed. I can't show you the pics for obvious reasons, but I will show you his shots of the house. Guess I'd better end this and start uploading some photos. Have a Terrific Tuesday.

Peace, Danny

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."~Emily Dickinson

Monday, October 8, 2007

Hi, First off, only a few of you wrote about the song. It was 'Peg' by Steely Dan. Jimmy got extra points for something about the group that I don't think I should discuss here. (Ha) This next one should be easy, I think. It's from '69:"The hurtin's on me, yeah, And I will never be free, no, my baby, no no. You gave a promise to me, yeah, An' you broke it, an' you broke it, oh no...__ __...." Hint: About a break-up, can you guess who it is? WeekEnd Update: Saturday we traveled up to Mae Chan to visit with Martyn and Chalinee. They live in a Yao village and Chalinee is the leader and teacher of the village. She just got her Phd and was voted Teacher of the Year. They live in a house that Martyn built. They had just started on the house when we visited in 2001. I'll post some pictures. We had a very nice visit and then went out and strolled through the village and it's many stalls full of crafts. We bought a few gifts and took pictures with some of the women. More on all of this later. Saturday evening we had our first dinner party. Everyone showed up, so we had a party of seven. Boot did an amazing job of presenting the dishes and made sure everybody had what they needed. Lots of laughter and good food, in spite of the rain. Pics to follow. Sunday found us at Big C again for supplies and a few things in the way of preparedness. Namely, flashlights and batteries. Never know when the light will go out. Hmm. Today (our Monday) we went out and walked 'the hood' for about an hour. So many interesting things to see when traveling at a walking pace. We usually see things at Tuk-Tuk speed. We saw the cows several times, in different places. it seems that the guy with the cows takes them around to the vacant lots to keep the growth under control. It also means that you have to watch where you walk. During part two of our walk, we met a guy with an old motorcycle. He told us it was a Burmese army bike, a B.S.A (English) He roared off, with it's one cylinder missing a few beats. Every few minutes, he'd come back down the street, the engine getting closer to perfection. Finally he made a pass, flying by, running smooth, with a big grin on his face. Then we saw a furniture store and ended up buying a cabinet for the kitchen and an entertainment center. They delivered in the afternoon and I got it connected without any problems. (nothing like diagrams and labels.) Observations: Thai dogs are very laid-back. Blue explained that most of them eat rice, since meat is too expensive to give to a dog. That would explain why they coexist with the chickens that walk around so freely. Some of the dogs just hang out on the street and if a car or bike comes, they just stay where they are. (if they know there's room) There's a saying here that explains much: "It's up to you". It's also the name of one of the many beauty shops in the area. Neighborhoods are very diverse when it comes to dwellings. There can be a grand two-story house with great landscaping right next door to a shack. Right next to that will be a row of home-businesses. Tomorrow is furniture delivery day. All the stuff we got in Hang Dong should get here and we can unload the suitcases and get ready for our container. That's due to arrive in Bangkok on the 26th. Hopefully, we'll get our things about three or four days after that. Then the fun begins. I think there's a lot that we will not be keeping. Life goes on. Have a Great Week.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Hi, Well, we went to Chiang Mai today. We returned about 8:30pm and stopped for dinner. As we turned on to the highway near our neighborhood, all the lights went out, we saw a flash of lightning, and we all went 'Oh'. Our first power outage. It happens here when you least expect it, apparently. Anyway, it's back and so am I. It's about 10:30 Friday night. We had one more name to add to the list of 'Funksters'. Linda got the tune. It was "Flashlight" by Parliament, who's fearless leader was George Clinton. Oh, now you get it. Linda sent me a very interesting article about George Clinton and royalties. Let me know if you'd like to check it out. For the weekend, consider this: "I've seen your picture, your name in lights above it. This is your big debut It's like a dream come true...__ it will come back to you..." Clues: By a steely duet about a one syllable person. So, we left Chiang Rai at about 7a.m., armed with a list of furniture needs, a diagram and measurements. We were ready. Our mission was to go to Hang Dong (pronounced Han Dong), a famous furniture village, and get some deals on unique items. We arrived before lunchtime so it was easy shopping. There are neatly planned 'zones', like streets lined with open-front stores. Some deal in tables and chairs, others have just carvings. Still others have very original work by local craftsmen. We ended up getting all but a few things. Blue was invaluable as translator and negotiator. Some of the shop people spoke English, but most didn't. He had taken us to this same place in '01 and it was much smaller then. It's all due to get here Monday or Tuesday, then I'll share some pics with you. We also happened upon a shop that sold didgiredoos, and I got a pretty nice one. They're made from bamboo, but with aboriginal art and a nice tone. After the furniture adventure, we went to Central, the huge mall store that I told you about. Tried to get my email fixed at the DTAC store (my cell phone provider) but it took them forever to tell me that I couldn't get 'push' email. They did set up GPRS for me so now I can go on-line from anywhere, without Wi-Fi. Very Cool. We went looking for nice sheets, but were disappointed. We now have our first 'all-in-one' printer, so we can do things just like August. I'm 'over joyed'. Back to the black-out. We were slowly making our way through the hood, when Khun Soom got a call from his sister, our landlady of sorts. I guess she was telling him about the power. When we got to the house, it was raining, no lights, and I had to go to the back of the house to unlock the door. As I was going to the rear, I saw a flashlight shining in front of me. It was Boon Serm to the rescue. He gave me the light and then returned a bit later with candles and a lighter. What a guy. It's time for the 'Funnies', from my buddy Linda. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

PS New pics from the road, later today.

"I rear ended a car this morning.....I tell you, I knew it was going to be a REALLY bad day!The driver got out of the other car, and he was a DWARF!!He looked up at me and said "I am NOT Happy!"So I said, "Well.... Which one ARE you then?"That's how the fight started..."

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Hi, We had another cool day in paradise. This morning we had coffee and toast, sat around and talked and laughed. Blue went out into the yard (which is yet to be named) and began taking pictures. Lisa and I followed with our new camera that Blue brought from the States. It's a Nikon S51 and it's wonderful. You've been seeing pics from it this week. Anyway, I took a bunch of pics that are posted on the Flickr site. We couldn't believe some of the plants and flowers in 'our' yard. It's like living in an arboretum. There are tropical flowers, fruit trees (mango, papaya, bread fruit, banana...) and things that make you go Hmm. After lunch we went into town and bought some table supplies. We're having our first dinner party this Saturday. We've invited Pui, Third, Nat (pronounced Nut), Nu and Jen. Jen may not make it because she's been sick, but it should be a fun, yummy evening. Boot is an excellent cook and we're hoping she stays with us. She introduced us to a Tuk-Tuk driver named Singha (Sing=Lion). He took us to town, waited, and brought us back. Waited a bit more and took us back to town. Oh, the song thing. Brenda and Frank got it, so I know more of you must know it. Here's a bit more to tease you:"Most of all he needs the funk (shine it), Help him find the funk (ha, funk it), Most of all he needs the funk...." Hint: The leader is not the brother of a former president (Ha). Can I shine some light on the subject? After our shopping, we came back, regrouped and went for our Thai lesson. After the lesson, the three of us got a foot massage, which is more than just that. The focus is on the reflexology point in the feet, that affect the whole body. They also massage the lower legs, and finish with the hands, arms and upper back. Sheer bliss. We returned to a delicious dinner of stir-fried shrimp, rice and vegetables. Today we made contact with iTunes radio, something I'd never done. One of our favorite coffee shops plays it a lot so we had to try it. I'm listening to Iceberg Radio's Ambient/Chill channel and it's great. Tomorrow we're getting up early and going to Chiang Mai in the big van. We should be back in time for me to share the adventure with you. (aren't you thrilled?) Have a Cool Day. (I hear it's been hot)

Peace, Danny

PS If you think we're having a wonderful time doing basically nothing, you're right!

Hi, We had another cool day in paradise. This morning we had coffee and toast, sat around and talked and laughed. Blue went out into the yard (which is yet to be named) and began taking pictures. Lisa and I followed with our new camera that Blue brought from the States. It's a Nikon S51 and it's wonderful. You've been seeing pics from it this week. Anyway, I took a bunch of pics that are posted on the Flickr site. We couldn't believe some of the plants and flowers in 'our' yard. It's like living in an arboretum. There are tropical flowers, fruit trees (mango, papaya, bread fruit, banana...) and things that make you go Hmm. After lunch we went into town and bought some table supplies. We're having our first dinner party this Saturday. We've invited Pui, Third, Nat (pronounced Nut), Nu and Jen. Jen may not make it because she's been sick, but it should be a fun, yummy evening. Boot is an excellent cook and we're hoping she stays with us. She introduced us to a Tuk-Tuk driver named Singha (Sing=Lion). He took us to town, waited, and brought us back. Waited a bit more and took us back to town. Oh, the song thing. Brenda and Frank got it, so I know more of you must know it. Here's a bit more to tease you:"Most of all he needs the funk (shine it), Help him find the funk (ha, funk it), Most of all he needs the funk...." Hint: The leader is not the brother of a former president (Ha). Can I shine some light on the subject? After our shopping, we came back, regrouped and went for our Thai lesson. After the lesson, the three of us got a foot massage, which is more than just that. The focus is on the reflexology point in the feet, that affect the whole body. They also massage the lower legs, and finish with the hands, arms and upper back. Sheer bliss. We returned to a delicious dinner of stir-fried shrimp, rice and vegetables. Today we made contact with iTunes radio, something I'd never done. One of our favorite coffee shops plays it a lot so we had to try it. I'm listening to Iceberg Radio's Ambient/Chill channel and it's great. Tomorrow we're getting up early and going to Chiang Rai in the big van. We should be back in time for me to share the adventure with you. (aren't you thrilled?) Have a Cool Day. (I hear it's been hot)

Peace, Danny

PS If you think we're having a wonderful time doing basically nothing, you're right!

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Hi, I'll go easy on you today, since I went on yesterday. "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, was the song. Here's a stumper:"Now, I lay me down to sleep, Ooh, I just can't find a beat. __ __ (ohh, I will never dance) __ __ (x3)" Hint: Group is named after part of British government, doubled as another group, song may light the way. Our new internet hook-up seems much faster than the downtown hotel speed. This brings me to wonder about US speeds in L.A., because Slingbox is still very slow. Bummer, I was hoping to see the new season from the new house. Nobody knows the trouble I see. (or don't see) I knew you'd want to know about my little obsession. We still don't have all the furniture we need, but we're getting by. We plan to go to Chiang Mai with Soom, in his fancy van. There's a forecast for rain so we're playing it by ear. We'd like to go because we have 'business' to do. They do a lot of furniture making just south of town. It's a village that's become a mecca for decorators from all over. Last night we spotted two Gekos on the ceiling. How nice. Nobody told us that they bark. We'd heard the sound in the hotel and thought it was birds outside the window. Now we know that if the lights are on, we may hear them. If they get crazy, we'll just turn off the lights. Our softer mattress came today. It's a nice difference. Now we have a spare bed for the new house, already. Speaking of guests, we may have our second house guest in November. Better start putting in you bid for time. (Ha) I bought a VCD of a live concert of a Thai artist. Haven't had a chance to watch yet (saw previews at Big C) but it cost 1.89 Baht and contained three discs. There are also what they call Karaoke VCDs of popular artists, singing their hits, with the words along the bottom of the screen. It's like buying a disc of music videos, with the words. Cool, except I can't read Thai. I think it's time to have a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"If you only walk on sunny days,you may never reach your destination"~Michelle Redmond

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Hi, Monday was moving day. Sorry I didn't write, but so much was going on, I just couldn't break away. For those of you who waited patiently for the long-distance mail, I apologize. But not for the fun I had. (Ha) The song over the week-end was Stevie Wonder's "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life". Here's another easy one, since you only have one day: 'It's getting near dawn, when lights close their tired eyes...I've been waiting so long, to be where I'm going, in the __ __ __ __' Clue: Week-end song holds the key. Trio from the 60's. We checked out of the Wangcome early, and said good-byes to some of our friends on the staff. Blue met us at the hotel and we all rode to the new house, with all our stuff, in a hotel van. We were greeted by Boon Serm and his wife Khomauey. With all the major appliances in place, we felt very comfortable about moving in. Our large bedroom stays cool with the new air/con, the fridge gets cold, and, such as it is, we have a stove. Oh, and the place is pretty clean, thanks to the cleaning crew I mentioned Friday. Because the house is so big, we had a crew of six working on the place. A short time after we started unpacking, La and her sister Boot arrived. I should mention that La is one of those words that can mean several things, depending on the tone. Spoken the wrong way, it can mean donkey. One must watch ones tones. Anyway, La couldn't stay, but Boot, who speaks pretty good English, stayed in her place. Our first lunch was wonderful. We had stir-fried rice with chicken and vegetables, plus sautéed mixed veggies. After we ate what we could (she made too much because we said we were hungry) she brought our cut watermelon and Thai oranges. Here's an interesting bit: Thai oranges have green skin when ripe, yet they're orange inside. The afternoon found us heading, once again, to Big C. This time it was an entourage. Boon Serm was going to approve my getting the internet in my name. Since the phone line is in his name, I could get the net in mine, as a foreign user. His wife, Blue, Lisa, me and Boon Serm's brother Soom all piled into his plush Toyota touring van and set out on an expedition. Not only did we get signed up and get a modem and stuff, we shopped for those things we didn't have. khomauey knows the store like the back of her hand, and she led Lisa around finding things we should have, Thai style. We all had a lot of fun and I think we bonded on a different level. I forgot to mention that before we set out, we spent time signing and discussing the contract on the house. It's a good thing Blue was there to interpret and stir things in the right direction. At one point, Soom asked Blue his age (Thais like to ask personal questions). Blue explained that we were the same age. Boon Serm in 63, so I playfully called him 'Nong', which is a term used for those younger. He really liked that and said we were 'buddies'. After the shopping trip, Boon Serm came into the back patio with one of his Sueng's. He started playing, then went and got another one and gave it to Blue, as a gift. After singing a Lana song and looking at pics of Bangkok Blue, he went and got another Sueng and gave it to me. I played for a little, then made up a little blues line about 'goin' up to Chiang Rai....' then bent a string and he and his wife cracked up. I'm sure we'll be having many jam sessions in the future. We also got our first delivery of drinking water. We got big bottles (things are metric, so it's in litres) and smaller bottles that can put in the fridge. I'll also be posting pictures of our new trash can for the curb. They make these big cans out of recycled rubber, that look just like a witches caldron. The trash truck comes every morning and it cost about 10 Baht per month. Roughly about 40 cents. Waking up in our 'new house' was a trip. It felt like we were in a rain forest. Tropical bird calls filled the morning air, along with the distant rooster. The night before was also full of sounds. The most prominent was the crickets. They showed off all night. One guy sounded like a police whistle on speed. It went on for about 25 seconds, the a shorts break the back on. At first I thought it was a bad bearing in the air/con. I'm guessing we'll get used to it. As soon as I have access to the web, I'll post a bunch of new pics. (pitiful attempt to make up for Monday) Have a Great Week.

Peace, Danny

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbowbut the rainbow won't wait while you do the work."~Unknown

Followers

Cast of Characters

In September of 2007, my wife Lisa and I moved to Chiang Rai Thailand. This site is my reflections, observations, and the daily happenings of an expatriot living in another land.

By now you're probably scratching your head, wondering 'who are these people?'. These are frequently mentioned names in the daily messages.

August (18) and C-Bass (23) are our GodSons. We've been in their lives since they were born. Jeff and Anna are their parents.Joe is Lisa's Dad, there are Bay Area Cousins, Valley Cousins, NH Cousins, and San Diego Cousins.

Here in Thailand, there's Natcha, who cooks, cleans and teaches us, her husband Gong, who takes care of the grounds and also cooks. Nitchanan is the 2 1/2 year old daughter of Natcha and Gong. Cat is a 21 year old Thai student who was with us since October 2013 and is now attending college. And then there's Daku, our Golden Retriever who is 9 years old. We got him when he was only 5 weeks old.I think that about does it for now,